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Nutritional Status and Health Challenges Among Schoolchildren in Nepal's Solukhumbu Valley
María Teresa Murillo-Llorente1, Noemí Gil-Cuñat2, Sara Moltó-Dominguez3
1SONEV Research Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Catholic University of Valencia San Vicente Mártir, C/Quevedo No. 2, 46001 Valencia, Spain.
Insights
Child undernutrition and anemia are prevalent in rural Nepal due to poor diets. Interventions focusing on nutrition education and healthcare access are crucial for improving child health in vulnerable mountain communities.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
- Nutrition Science
Background:
- Child undernutrition is a significant public health concern in Nepal's rural Solukhumbu district.
- School-aged children in isolated mountain communities face unique health challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess undernutrition prevalence and clinical characteristics.
- To analyze dietary patterns and related health indicators in school children.
- To understand the health status of children in a vulnerable mountain setting.
Main Methods:
- A descriptive, cross-sectional study involving 54 school children (mean age 9.4 years).
- Evaluations included anthropometry, clinical examination, hemoglobin measurement, and 3-day 24-hour dietary recall.
- Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, adjusting for altitude.
Main Results:
- High prevalence of undernutrition (39% at risk of acute, 2% moderate acute) and anemia (87% after altitude adjustment).
- Diets were cereal and vegetable-dominant with low fruit/protein intake and no dairy; 59% had dental caries.
- Undernutrition indicators correlated with poorer health outcomes, with an inverse correlation between BMI and blood pressure.
Conclusions:
- A high burden of undernutrition and anemia exists, linked to poor diet and socioeconomic vulnerability.
- Urgent community-based interventions are needed, including nutrition education and improved healthcare.
- Longitudinal monitoring is essential for sustainable, multisectoral solutions.
Background/Objectives:
Child undernutrition remains a critical public health issue in Nepal, especially in the rural district of Solukhumbu. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and clinical characteristics of undernutrition, dietary patterns, and related health indicators in school-aged children from the Shree Saraswoti Basic School in Phuleli.
Methods:
A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted between July and August 2022. Fifty-four children (51.8% boys; mean age 9.4 ± 2.1 years) were evaluated using anthropometry, clinical examination, hemoglobin measurement, and three-day 24 h dietary recall. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.
Results:
BMI z-scores indicated that 39% of children were at risk of acute undernutrition, and 2% were at risk of moderate acute undernutrition. After adjusting for altitude, 87% were classified as anemic. Diets were dominated by cereals and vegetables, with a very low intake of fruits and proteins and no dairy consumption. Dental caries affected 59% of participants. Girls presented slightly higher subcutaneous fat percentages; however, 14.8% of the children exceeded the recommended thresholds. A dietary assessment revealed poor eating habits, including excessive intake of simple carbohydrates and insufficient nutrient diversity. Although socioeconomic data were not directly collected, the findings reflect the typical context of the vulnerability of isolated mountain communities. Undernutrition indicators (BMI, clinical signs, anemia) were associated with poorer health outcomes. An unexpected moderate inverse correlation was found between BMI and both systolic (r = -0.601) and diastolic (r = -0.550) blood pressure.
Conclusions:
The findings reveal a high burden of undernutrition and anemia among children in Solukhumbu, linked to poor diet and structural vulnerability. Urgent, community-based interventions-including nutrition education, agricultural diversification, and improved healthcare access-are needed. Longitudinal monitoring is essential to track progress and design sustainable, multisectoral solutions.
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